Mayor Peter Schwartzman presented the Youth Extra Effort on Monday to a Galesburg 5th grader who's already an experienced philanthropist. The Youth Extra Effort Award has existed since 1994 and recognizes a young person in the community who has gone above and beyond to be of service. Baylie Mayfield, a 5th grader at Galesburg Christian School was this year's recipient. Mayfield founded Junk 4 Jingles, a registered non-profit that gathers scrap metal for cash to buy Christmas gifts for kids on the Salvation Army Angel Tree. She started the project when she was 8 years old and has given more gifts every year she's been doing it. Mayfield was able to buy 38 gifts in 2020, 101 in 2021, and 132 in 2022. Besides her scrap collecting efforts, Mayfield belongs to 4-H and enjoys basketball, swim team, bicycle riding, and martial arts. Mayfield was nominated by Ward 7 Councilmember Larry Cox.
Baylie Mayfield, with help from her family, has been collecting scrap metal to buy Christmas gifts from the Angel Tree for three years. She is now a fifth grader and is getting a bonus from Jay's Auto Salvage for scrap metal collected before the end of October. Baylie and Briget Mayfield joined Tom Meredith and Tyler Gumm on "Galesburg's Morning News" to talk about Junk 4 Jingles. Here is a link to their FB page: https://www.facebook.com/people/Junk-for-Jingles/100079870569834/ http://www.wgil.galesburg.info/audio/10-19-22-Baylie.mp3
Baylie Mayfield appreciates the life she has and things she's acquired in her 9 years. She decided, as an 8-year-old, that she wanted all kids to be as happy as she is on Christmas morning. Baylie started Junk 4 Jingles. She collects junk scrap metal, turns it in for cash and buys presents for children on the Salvation Army Angel Tree. With the help of her little sister Harper, her parents Eric and Bridgette Mayfield and her grandfathers, she's on her way to be able to buy gifts for 100 children this year. Baylie and family joined Tom Meredith and Tyler Gumm on "Galesburg's Morning News" to talk about her quest. You contact them with a scrap metal or monetary donation at (309) 351-9520. You can also contact them on their Facebook page Junk for Jingles.
KNOXVILLE Eight-year-old Baylie Mayfield of Knoxville found some Christmas cheer this year in unlikely places.
Mayfield has raised more than $2,000 selling scrap metal, from tin cans collected in her family garage to an old refrigerator.
With her proceeds, Baylie purchased multiple gifts for 38 area youth through the Galesburg Salvation Army Angel Tree program.
“This year she wanted to do that with her own money” said her father, Eric Mayfield.
Baylie worked to collect scrap metal with her dad, and shopped for the gifts with her mom, Briget.
Her first goal was to buy gifts for 10 children.
As her project grew, her goal increased to 25, and kept going up.